Talking Points....
Connect Fellowship 7/22/2025
This week’s group discussion will focus on the first 3 parts of Pastor Doug’s Spirit filled series “The Person, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit.”
I. Part 1
A. The Holy Spirit is a good gift from God.
1. Luke 11:11-13 - If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
2. What are other good gifts has God given us?
B. God gave us the Holy Spirit to comfort us, not to make us lazy. He gave us this gift to comfort us, not to make us comfortable.
1. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
2. How can we make sure that we are not getting too comfortable and becoming lazy because of this amazing gift from God?
C. The Holy Spirit is the invisible presence of God, abiding with us forever.
1. John 14:16-17 - And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
2. How does it make you feel to know that even though we don't see Him, the Holy Spirit is always there and will always be there to help us?
D. The Holy Spirit is not confined to one direction, style, or pattern.
1. Believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
2. Believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. The Holy Spirit fell on the believers.
4. The Holy Spirit came upon the believers.
5. The Holy Spirit rested on the believers.
6. The believers received the Holy Spirit.
7. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers.
8. As believers, we are all different, with different needs that are met in different ways.
9. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in different ways during different seasons of your life?
E. The Holy Spirit doesn't always show up the same way, or show up to do the same thing. The Holy Spirit knows that if He did, we would worship the how instead of the who.
1. John 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
2. Since we never know how the Holy Spirit will help us, what are things that we can do when we are struggling in life, to show Him our trust in Him?
II. Part 2
A. We need to live a life by God's power.
1. 1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
2. Zechariah 4:6b - ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
3. Share a time when you tried to live under your own power instead of His, what you did to change your focus, and how He came through for you.
B. God has given us the promise of the Holy Spirit and His power.
1. Acts 1:4-5, 8 - And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
2. Why do we resist something God has for our lives?
C. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for every believer, for all time.
1. Acts 2:37-39 - Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
2. Some have the misbelief that receiving the Holy Spirit only happens once during the moment of salvation.
3. Another misbelief, is that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is limited to those in Acts 2.
4. What are some misbeliefs that you once had regarding the Holy Spirit?
D. God wanted to make salvation simple and free, yet He has more for our walk with Him. He has a Spirit filled life for us.
1. Acts 8:5, 12, 14-17 - Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
2. Acts 19:1-2, 6 - And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
3. How has living a Spirit filled life, not just a saved life, helped you?
E. There is a place with God that you may have never thought of going to because of the way others presented it, but it is closer than you think. Step in, and take in an empowered Spirit filled life.
1. If you are not currently living a Spirit filled life, would you like to? Can we pray for you?
III. Part 3
A. Three separate types of Baptism, happening at different times.
1. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ Jesus.
a. This is Salvation.
b. When you get saved, you are a brand new creation in Christ Jesus.
2. The disciple baptizes us in water.
a. This is Water Baptism.
b. When you get Water Baptized, your old life of sin is cut off.
3. Jesus Baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.
a. This is Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
b. When you get Spirit Baptized, you get the power to live out this new life in total victory and purpose.
4. Why do you think that God chose to give us the gift of three different types of Baptism?
B. God will never give you a life where He isn't necessary. He wants us to live a life that is too big for us. He wants us to dream, dreams that are too big. He desires for us to pray, prayers that are too big. He wants us to get visions for our life that are too big. He is bigger than all!
1. When we find ourselves thinking too small, what are things that we can do to have bigger faith?
C. Reflection time.
1. What has God placed on your heart regarding this series, “The Person, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit?”
A.
This week’s group discussion will focus on the first 3 parts of Pastor Doug’s Spirit filled series “The Person, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit.”
I. Part 1
A. The Holy Spirit is a good gift from God.
1. Luke 11:11-13 - If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
2. What are other good gifts has God given us?
B. God gave us the Holy Spirit to comfort us, not to make us lazy. He gave us this gift to comfort us, not to make us comfortable.
1. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
2. How can we make sure that we are not getting too comfortable and becoming lazy because of this amazing gift from God?
C. The Holy Spirit is the invisible presence of God, abiding with us forever.
1. John 14:16-17 - And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
2. How does it make you feel to know that even though we don't see Him, the Holy Spirit is always there and will always be there to help us?
D. The Holy Spirit is not confined to one direction, style, or pattern.
1. Believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
2. Believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. The Holy Spirit fell on the believers.
4. The Holy Spirit came upon the believers.
5. The Holy Spirit rested on the believers.
6. The believers received the Holy Spirit.
7. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers.
8. As believers, we are all different, with different needs that are met in different ways.
9. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in different ways during different seasons of your life?
E. The Holy Spirit doesn't always show up the same way, or show up to do the same thing. The Holy Spirit knows that if He did, we would worship the how instead of the who.
1. John 3:8 - The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
2. Since we never know how the Holy Spirit will help us, what are things that we can do when we are struggling in life, to show Him our trust in Him?
II. Part 2
A. We need to live a life by God's power.
1. 1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
2. Zechariah 4:6b - ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
3. Share a time when you tried to live under your own power instead of His, what you did to change your focus, and how He came through for you.
B. God has given us the promise of the Holy Spirit and His power.
1. Acts 1:4-5, 8 - And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
2. Why do we resist something God has for our lives?
C. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for every believer, for all time.
1. Acts 2:37-39 - Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
2. Some have the misbelief that receiving the Holy Spirit only happens once during the moment of salvation.
3. Another misbelief, is that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is limited to those in Acts 2.
4. What are some misbeliefs that you once had regarding the Holy Spirit?
D. God wanted to make salvation simple and free, yet He has more for our walk with Him. He has a Spirit filled life for us.
1. Acts 8:5, 12, 14-17 - Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
2. Acts 19:1-2, 6 - And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
3. How has living a Spirit filled life, not just a saved life, helped you?
E. There is a place with God that you may have never thought of going to because of the way others presented it, but it is closer than you think. Step in, and take in an empowered Spirit filled life.
1. If you are not currently living a Spirit filled life, would you like to? Can we pray for you?
III. Part 3
A. Three separate types of Baptism, happening at different times.
1. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ Jesus.
a. This is Salvation.
b. When you get saved, you are a brand new creation in Christ Jesus.
2. The disciple baptizes us in water.
a. This is Water Baptism.
b. When you get Water Baptized, your old life of sin is cut off.
3. Jesus Baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.
a. This is Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
b. When you get Spirit Baptized, you get the power to live out this new life in total victory and purpose.
4. Why do you think that God chose to give us the gift of three different types of Baptism?
B. God will never give you a life where He isn't necessary. He wants us to live a life that is too big for us. He wants us to dream, dreams that are too big. He desires for us to pray, prayers that are too big. He wants us to get visions for our life that are too big. He is bigger than all!
1. When we find ourselves thinking too small, what are things that we can do to have bigger faith?
C. Reflection time.
1. What has God placed on your heart regarding this series, “The Person, Presence, and Power of the Holy Spirit?”
A.